BA (Hons) International Relations and Social Policy

BA (Hons) International Relations and Social Policy

100% of the University’s International Relations and Social Policy graduates were in employment or further study within six months of finishing this course - The latest Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey.

The Course

This joint programme draws on a range of social science disciplines to examine challenging and controversial national and international issues such as human rights, poverty and social exclusion.

International Relations is the study of how political, economic and cultural forces interact to mould relationships between nations. Social Policy examines how the decisions that determine the way we live are made. Studying these two interdisciplinary subjects together provides students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the way in which the national concerns of a country feed into its social policy agenda.

Teaching is informed by the research expertise of academic staff from the School of Social and Political Sciences, who contribute to national policy debates and are engaged in research across a range of specialisms, currently including the politics of welfare, gender and sexuality, the international political economy, war crimes and genocide, and the politics of global health.

The Course

This joint programme draws on a range of social science disciplines to examine challenging and controversial national and international issues such as human rights, poverty and social exclusion.

International Relations is the study of how political, economic and cultural forces interact to mould relationships between nations. Social Policy examines how the decisions that determine the way we live are made. Studying these two interdisciplinary subjects together provides students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the way in which the national concerns of a country feed into its social policy agenda.

Teaching is informed by the research expertise of academic staff from the School of Social and Political Sciences, who contribute to national policy debates and are engaged in research across a range of specialisms, currently including the politics of welfare, gender and sexuality, the international political economy, war crimes and genocide, and the politics of global health.

This course is designed to appeal to students who are interested in the dynamics of the world in which we live and have an interest in gaining an understanding of international relationships and social policy. It is also aimed at those who would like to develop an understanding of some of the major problems that face the world and the extent to which we have the means and the will to tackle them.

The first year of the degree introduces central issues and concepts in international relations, social policy and the social sciences. Students can learn about social problems and social policies in the UK and overseas, whilst developing research and IT skills. In the second year, students may build on this foundation and choose from a range of optional modules covering subjects of special interest, such as intelligence and national security, international relations in the Middle East, war crimes, community and policy making, families and human rights. In the final year, students are expected to produce an independent study in a research area of their choice.

There are opportunities to participate in field trips to key international organisations and political institutions. In recent years, students have visited New York City, Washington DC, Brussels, The Hague, Strasbourg and Geneva. Students are responsible for any travel, accommodation or general living costs associated with optional trips. Further information relating to these costs can be found in the Features tab.

Contact Hours and Reading for a Degree

Students on this programme learn from academic staff who are often engaged in world-leading or internationally excellent research or professional practice. Contact time can be in workshops, practical sessions, seminars or lectures and may vary from module to module and from academic year to year. Tutorial sessions and project supervision can take the form of one-to-one engagement or small group sessions. Some courses offer the opportunity to take part in external visits and fieldwork.

It is still the case that students read for a degree and this means that in addition to scheduled contact hours, students are required to engage in independent study. This allows you to read around a subject and to prepare for lectures and seminars through wider reading, or to complete follow up tasks such as assignments or revision. As a general guide, the amount of independent study required by students at the University of Lincoln is that for every hour in class you are expected to spend at least two to three hours in independent study.

This module aims to enable students to both recognise and also understand the different methodologies employed in social research and to apply these to their own research project and critique of methods. Overall, the aim of this module is to set out methodological skills, and involve students in their application, and to encourage critical reflection on a variety of levels.

This module aims to introduce students to core issues of relevance to international relations study. These include global inequality, international political economy, globalization and emerging transnational civil societies. The module is intended to expose students to the breadth of issues and approaches relevant to the study of international relations and international politics more broadly.

This module aims to give students the opportunity to develop a knowledge and understanding of key social science thinkers and concepts pertinent to all of the disciplines taught within the School. Throughout, students will be encouraged to think critically about the ideas presented and to examine social problems in the light of a range of academic perspectives.

This foundation module aims to examine some key contexts and practices of social policy in the UK. It aims to provide an overview of contemporary British society and some of its pressing issues and challenges. It explores how social policy, as a broad framework of welfare, justice and rights agendas and interventions has sought to address these issues and challenges. This is set in a historical and comparative context. The module highlights the importance of understanding how social policies are framed, made and implemented and how these can be analysed within understandings of societal inequality and poverty.

This module seeks to introduce students to politics at the European level through an analysis of challenges in European politics and policy making. Beginning with the history of European integration and the first attempts to secure peace through economic interdependency, the module focuses on the development of the EU institutions and the ways in which policy-makers, bureaucrats, intellectuals and civil society actors have attempted to resolve problems of cooperation in an ever larger Union.

This module is based on the belief that comparative methodology can be a useful tool for social and political analysis. The module begins with a consideration of the development of comparative approaches, the use of a range of comparative techniques and the validity of comparison. It proceeds to an examination of some basic concepts that can help provide an understanding of the bases upon which governments are built and operate. Students then have the opportunity to apply the analytical and theoretical tools from the early parts of the module to consider a variety of features of contemporary politics and policy, particularly in the context of democratic transition in different regions of the world.

This module aims to explore the cultural, practical and theoretical developments relating to sex work, drawing upon national and international examples. Taking a comparative approach, this module seeks to understand how scholars conceptualise sex work within different competing feminist frameworks and how these ideas reflect, or are at odds with, popular public and political discourse.

This module is designed to focus on the nature and causes of armed conflicts. It aims to provide an overview and a basic framework for understanding the evolving field of conflict analysis. Students have the opportunity to explore conflict resolution methods such as mediation, negotiation, collaborative problem solving, peacekeeping operations, and other applications.

This module aims to enable students to analyse the priorities and developments of welfare states over time, and through analysis of these developments, equip students with the tools to interpret key contemporary social, political and economic trends.

This module aims to introduce students to the area of foreign policy analysis. It is designed to explore competing explanations for state behaviour and the conduct of inter-state relations in the international domain. The module encourages students to consider the contested role of human agency in global affairs in contrast to disciplinary international relations’ preoccupation with structural considerations. A range of historical and contemporary case studies are used to illuminate the issues under discussion.

This module will seek to examine the key components of the US political system, and the main challenges facing democratic politics in modern America. The module aims to provide a detailed historical and theoretical appreciation of the development of US democracy. It will give students the opportunity to examine the principal institutions and actors in the US political system including the President, Congress, the Supreme Court, political parties, interest groups and the media. It will also aim to trace the impact of key ideas such as constitutionalism, federalism and exceptionalism. Finally the module will aim to examine the impact of wider societal factors on US political life, such as shifting demographics and the role of religion.

This module aims to provide an introduction to the development of key ideas, principles and institutions in political economy. Taking a broadly historical approach, the module is structured around giving students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the development of political economy both by examining the scientific contributions of, and issues addressed by its key figures, while placing such contributions in historical context. Overall the module seeks to provide students with an understanding of the key principles, ideas and controversies in the history of political economy with a view to understanding their relevance to the current era.

This module aims to examine the impact (and sometimes the lack of impact) of ideology on practice in social policy. Whilst the focus of the module is on the experience of the United Kingdom, comparison with other states will be made where appropriate.

This module aims to complement the study of topics such as human rights and police powers by providing students with the opportunity to examine a number of similar themes but from the less-explored point of view of the State and the exercise of its powers to protect itself. The module also aims to consider the law relating to the intelligence services and surveillance, and seeks to introduce students to certain International Law principles and issues and their impact in the UK. The examination of topical case studies aims to enable students to analyse and apply relevant law and constitutional principles to contemporary issues of UK security, and to develop awareness of their practical and everyday function.

This module aims to introduce students to the central issues and actors in the modern Middle East. The module will explore interconnections between domestic political issues and processes, foreign policy, regional dynamics and the international system. Throughout, the module will seek to explore how International Relations theories and analytical frameworks can help to understand and interpret the politics and international relations of the Middle East.

This module aims to introduce a range of critical approaches within media and cultural studies frameworks to examine the contemporary distribution, reception and impact of cultural forms across national boundaries. It is designed to consider how popular cultures are constructed, marketed and then consumed by their audiences. By the conclusion of the module students will have had the opportunity to gain knowledge of significant debates in the academic cultural studies as well as the critical skills necessary for them to carry out their own small-scale studies of examples.

This module is designed to firstly develop and expand on issues of negligence and personal autonomy (assault and consent) first encountered by students in tort law at level 1 and dealt with in this module in the clinical context. Building on this, the module will aim to consider the regulation of clinical practice; and the interface between the law, ethics and regulation focusing on emerging areas of difficulty. Both caselaw, statute law, regulations and current matters of media and policy controversy can be considered.

This module is designed to provide an introduction to the activities of the United Nations, as well as an understanding of the practices of international diplomacy and governance. The module will aim to use a discussion of contemporary international issues to explore some of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy. It will also seek to provide students with an introduction to issues of international organisation and international law and treaty-making. All of this is designed to assist students in preparing for their role as a 'diplomat' at a Model United Nations conference.

This module aims to examine core questions about the increasingly diverse forms of policing of crime and deviance. It considers how and why we have policed different forms of crime and deviance and why those changes have occurred and the competing character of many of the positions involved.

This module aims to address a variety of issues relating to political parties in the United Kingdom. The political science literature covers a wide variety of topics around parties. Amongst those which are examined in this module are the following; the historical development of parties; the role of parties in terms of mobilisation of support, electioneering and campaigning, recruitment of personnel; representation of the electorate and issue-based politics; and the partisan divide. These will be examined primarily within the context of a discussion of the three major parties within the British political system including their development, their ideological tenets and their contemporary positions. However, towards the end of the module these will be set against the position of other parties within the UK including the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Northern Irish parties, to which will be added a comparative perspective, drawing upon the roles and experiences of parties in Western Europe.

This module is designed to offer students the opportunity to develop an up-to-date and in-depth understanding of the social, political and economic issues facing contemporary China. Using a key text, this module starts with a broad sweep of China’s modern history, from the imperial era to the present, with the aim of providing essential context for understanding the current political and social environment. The module ends with an analysis of China’s future, challenges and prospects, in the decades to come.

Building on the level 1 module Applying Research, this module seeks to systematically scrutinise examples of research undertaken in the subject area of Social Policy/Sociology. The module has two main aims. First, to enable students to understand, in concrete terms, what constitutes research in Social Policy/Sociology and how the research process leads to the production of specific research outputs including dissertations, theses, published academic articles and research monographs. Second, the module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge base necessary for the production of research proposals and outputs.

Researching Politics and International Relations (Option)†Find out more

Researching Politics and International Relations (Option)†

Aiming to build upon the level 1 module, ‘Applying Research’, this module is designed to focus more deeply on the nature of research undertaken in the subject areas of Politics and International Relations. The main aim of the module is to give students the opportunity to develop an understanding of what constitutes research in Politics and International Relations and how the research process leads to the production of specific research outputs including dissertations, theses, published academic articles and research monographs.

This module encourages students to undertake one or more external activities relevant to their programme of study, and to engage in a critical reflection of the nature of this activity and how it relates to society as a whole and to their personal development as individuals. Relevant activities may involve significant interaction with an organisation outside the University providing an appropriate experience additional to the student’s programme of studies, such as voluntary work or mentoring within a service-providing organisation.

Please note that students will be expected to play a significant role in initiating and arranging their programme of experience and to take responsibility for the frequency and form of experience. There may be additional costs in the form of transportation and accommodation depending on where students wish to pursue experience. The experience will be required to consist of a minimum of 30 hours.

The Vigilant State: intelligence and national security (Option)†Find out more

The Vigilant State: intelligence and national security (Option)†

This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the study of intelligence. It aims to focus on the basic concepts in intelligence by seeking to establish first what is meant by intelligence, before examining the various elements of intelligence - collection, analysis, counterintelligence and associated activities such as covert political action.

This module is designed to place theory at the centre of the study of world politics. It aims to provides a critical overview of the disciplinary literature of international relations from both mainstream and critical perspectives. The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to both understand and critically employ the concepts, approaches and methods of International Relations theory, and to develop an understanding of their contested nature and the problematic character of inquiry in the discipline.

This modules seeks to examine the historical background to the various strands of political thought and ideas. In doing this, it aims to build upon some of the major ideas and concepts introduced at level one, by illustrating linkages between political theories and other aspects of politics. In particular, reference is made to key thinkers who have left their intellectual imprint on political ideas and beliefs.

This course aims to provide students with an advanced and comprehensive overview of international security in the 21st century. Specifically, it seeks to understand the issues, actors and solutions that drive security agendas in various parts of the world. Through a detailed study of key debates and key issues in the study and practice of security, the module engages with the following three questions: Security for whom and from what?; Security by whom?; Security of what and where? Emphasis will be placed on the philosophical and political connotations of certain security problems, the impact of security actors in the meaning and practice of security, and the ‘constructed’ nature of our understanding of certain contemporary security challenges.

Over half the planet’s population now lives in an urban area and urbanisation across the globe looks set to continue spreading inexorably. However, cities are contradictory sites of human development patterned by opportunity, inequality, exploitation and conflict. These traits pose challenges for the meeting of human welfare needs and for our understandings of contemporary life within cities. This module aims to enable students to analyse the emergence of cities across time and space, and through analysis of the city, enable students the opportunity to develop the tools to interpret key contemporary sociological, political and policy trends.

The module is designed to examine the ways in which the state, through its social security and labour market policies, has affected the lives of those in paid work and those outside it. A particular focus of the course is on the emerging all-party consensus on welfare policy, in which mainstream politicians agree that benefits should no longer be paid to people of working age who refuse work or training, and that governments must ensure that jobs pay more than out-of-work benefits.

This module seeks to explore the relationship between work and society, drawing on different classical and contemporary sociological theories of work. It aims to examine key areas within the sociology of work such as concepts of work, work-place inequalities, resistance and the reality and challenges of engaging in paid work in the 21st Century.

This module aims to provide students with an opportunity to explore the youth justice system in depth, including the theoretical and historical contexts of youth justice, contemporary policy and practice developments and the salience of political agendas in constructing responses to young people’s offending behaviour.

This module seeks to prompt a sociological enquiry into youth cultures, addressing issues of identity and meaning within the behaviour, consumption and lifestyles of young people. Reflecting upon contemporary narratives of youth as dangerous or out of control, the module aims to investigate the plurality of youth cultures, and the diversity of young people’s cultural practices.

Aiming to build upon Understanding the Policy Process, this module is designed to support students not only to continue to develop their knowledge of a range of perspectives on the policy process but, in addition, to use these to analyse a case study relevant to their degree programme.

This module aims to introduce students to different paradigms of the 'body' and 'embodiment'. Recent research suggests that our understandings and our relationship with our own and other ‘bodies’ has been and is continuing to undergo radical changes. This module will seek to explore these ongoing developments in Western and non-Western cultures and societies.

This module aims to examine the nature of family policy as it has developed for different family forms and for different purposes, and seeks to consider why an understanding of family policy is important in the twenty-first century. This is set in historical, ideological and comparative contexts.

This module is all about communities, in particular, communities that are poor, disadvantaged, isolated or 'socially excluded'. In recent years, interest has been re-awakened in the whole idea of community and in what sorts of policies might be most effective in helping communities and solving their problems. This module aims to look critically at all these beliefs and seeks to come to conclusions about their validity.

Community and Conflict II aims to focus on the application of theory, concepts and perspectives developed in Community and Conflict I to particular areas of public policy making including policy implementation.

This module aims to introduce students to a range of contemporary models of counselling and guidance practice. The aim is to give students the opportunity to develop skills and attitudes that can be of value in a variety of human service settings. A key feature of the module will be to allow students the opportunity to make judgements as to the appropriateness of using such techniques in different scenarios.

Throughout this module students will have the opportunity to explore how state agencies respond to real and perceived threats of extremism and terrorism. This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of the extent to which the state and the media frame extremism and terrorism.

This module aims to examine the law in England and Wales relating to the family and in particular the law on marriage, divorce, cohabiting couples, financial and property rights, and rights and duties relating to children. This module seeks to provide students with an interest in this area the opportunity to develop a detailed understanding of the practical law relating to the family and to examine ethical issues and the wider policy considerations that lie behind it.

This module explores the issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in contemporary society. GBV is understood as behaviour or attitudes underpinned by inequitable power relations that hurt, threaten or undermine people because of their gender or (perceived) sexuality.

The module starts by addressing the definitions and conceptual boundaries utilised in understanding GBV, and key theoretical perspectives on GBV, taking an in-depth look at debates in GBV scholarship, such as issues around intersectionality, patriarchy and patriarchal bargain, e.g., whether this is a useful concept and how far it can explain (global) gendered power relations. These issues will be developed through case studies of specific forms of GBV such as domestic violence and sexual coercion and rape. These case studies will explore specific forms of GBV in the context of the broader theoretical debates, as well as the current knowledge base on incidence, prevalence and responses to GBV. The module will also explore theoretical, methodological and ethical considerations when researching GBV.

This module will aim to address the historical origins of global civil society (e.g. the anti-slavery movement), together with diverse and competing contemporary meanings of global civil and ‘uncivil’ society.

This module explores the concept and practice of global governance. International Relations scholars are increasingly concerned with how international organisations work and how they might work better. Of particular interest is the governance of issues that are inherently global; that is, those that transcend national borders. Examples include health, the environment, poverty, trade, finance, security, conflict and crime.

The module begins with the historical development of international institutions and key theories of global governance. It then examines present day international organisations, in terms of their power, efficacy and impact. The final part of the module assesses whether current governance arrangements are addressing global challenges sufficiently well or whether there is potential and scope for improvement.

This module aims to investigate the variety of ways in which harmful activities are executed and regulated and seeks to evaluate the role of criminalisation within these forms of misconduct. The competing claims of ‘individual/organisational’ agency feature strongly in this module as do the variety of frameworks and the feasibility of imposing ‘realistic’ sanctions.

This module is designed to introduce students to human rights at both the conceptual and practical level. It aims to explore the theoretical arguments around the source of human rights and identifies some of the problems and possibilities which emerge from such readings.

Independent Study (Politics and International Relations) (Option)†Find out more

Independent Study (Politics and International Relations) (Option)†

Students are expected to prepare and submit an Independent Study Proposal during semester B at Intermediate Level and appropriate supervisors will be allocated at this stage. The Independent Study preparation will be focused through the Research in Social Policy and Research in Politics and International Relations modules, which aim to familiarise students with real and active models of research in relevant areas.

Independent Study (Social Policy and Sociology) (Option)†Find out more

Independent Study (Social Policy and Sociology) (Option)†

Students will be required to prepare and submit an Independent Study Proposal during semester B at Intermediate Level and appropriate supervisors will be allocated at this stage. The Independent Study preparation will be focused through the Researching in Social Science module, which aims to familiarise students with real and active models of research in relevant areas.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the dynamic, constantly evolving area of international law. Students will have the opportunity to study legal rules which operate in a much broader theatre than national law, with the aim of helping them develop a greater understanding of a changing world order. The module seeks to examine both theoretical and practical applications of International Law and aims to provide students with ample scope for research and independent study.

This module is designed to explore political challenges and debates around the presence of culturally diverse populations in the United Kingdom and aims to examine the role this presence plays in understandings of British and English identities.

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of how the UK Parliament works, in theory and in practice. It will aim to examine Parliament’s twin relationships with the Executive and with the citizen, and situate these within broader theories and debates about democratic accountability and the nature of representation.

The module also aims to bring students into closer contact with Parliament through handling Parliamentary materials and by facilitating contact with Parliamentarians through, for example an external speaker series, and when possible an optional visit to Parliament.

Please note that where opportunities arise to take part in a trip to Parliament, students are expected to cover their own transportation and meal costs.

This module aims to locate the theory, practice and history of punishment and penal policy in the context of social control in general. As well as aiming to address the philosophy of punishment, in terms of core concepts of justice, desert, deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation and reparation, it seeks to examine the way in which social control is a fundamental aspect of social relations.

This module aims to build upon the more general analysis of policing in Policing Crime and Deviance. The aim is to instil a more focused, substantial and critical understanding of the place of policing within the contemporary complex myriad of social controls, as well as the specific organisational and political challenges faced by the police in the 21st Century.

This module aims to provide an opportunity for students to sharpen their analytical skills and broaden their knowledge by exposing them to the wide-ranging debates on the problems of transition from Communism. More generally, it aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop the intellectual ability to interpret current and future developments in Russia and China.

This module takes the politics, economics and societies of the developing world as its subject matter. The module aims to explore a range of contemporary issues confronting the developing world and the module seeks to use case studies extensively throughout, in order to illuminate theory and to demonstrate the broader relevance of the issues under discussion to the study of international relations.

This module is designed to cover a variety of issues relating to the politics of energy and climate change. It seeks to provide students with a history of energy and climate change policy, an exploration of theoretical approaches and political implications, and also an opportunity to develop a comparative perspective through the examination of examples of EU and global energy and climate change policy and the way in which this is now intrinsically global.

This module aims to examine the concepts that shape debates in (and are shaped by) global health, including global health governance and global health diplomacy. It then seeks provide students with the opportunity to critically assesses programmes and strategies designed to address global health challenges such as pandemics, infectious and non-communicable diseases, reproductive health, biosecurity and inequalities of health.

This module is designed to explore the politics of masculinity in contemporary society. Overall, the module will aim to ‘make the familiar strange’ and enable students to question their own assumptions, as well as popular and common sense notions of gender.

The Politics of Migration in the UK and Western Europe (Option)†Find out more

The Politics of Migration in the UK and Western Europe (Option)†

This module explores how different Western European states have responded to the challenges of increasing immigration. It examines the causes and dynamics of migration (labour and family) and refugee migration flows to, and within, Western Europe since World War II. It compares nation-state responses with respect to entry controls and philosophies of integration, examining the influence that interest groups, supranational institutions like the EU, and party politics (including populist radical-right politics) have on these policies. It particularly examines the UK within this comparative international context, using Lincolnshire as a case study with which students can explore academic and policy debates in this field. The module focuses on building students’ analytical skills and improving their understanding of the relative benefits and drawbacks of single-case and comparative approaches in assessing migration issues

This module is designed to focus upon the processes of policy making and implementation at both practical and theoretical levels. It aims to provide students with an introduction to a variety of models of policy making and seeks to discuss the complexities of the distribution of power and decision making, primarily, but not limited to, the field of social policy.

This module is constructed as an attempt to understand the ‘anatomy’ of war crimes and genocide – their origins, ideological basis, socio-political contexts, the techniques and technologies used and relevant theoretical perspectives.

This module aims to offer students the opportunity to explore in depth the context and issues of adult health and social care and the work roles available within it.

It focuses on both national policy developments and local provision, with the emphasis on the perspectives of service users and practitioners. The module will be of particular value to students as a preparation for making career choices and to enhance their employability.

This module considers how to engage with children and families to assess and respond to needs and how to make professional judgements in decisions to safeguard and promote children’s welfare. A further key theme is working in partnership both with children and families and other agencies, considering how, in practice this can best be promoted at different levels and stages of decision-making.

Emphasis will be on current research and developments. This module will be of particular value to students as a preparation for making career choices and to enhance their employability.

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

LEVEL 1

Applying Research (Social Sciences) (Core)

Global Conflicts and Contexts (Core)

Key Social Science Concepts (Core)

Social Issues and Social Justice (Core)

LEVEL 2

Challenges of European Politics (Option)†

Comparative Politics and Policy (Core)

Conceptualising Sex Work (Option)†

Conflict Analysis (Option)†

Debating Welfare States (Option)†

Foreign Policy Analysis (Option)†

Governing America (Option)†

Ideas and Issues in Political Economy (Option)†

Ideology into Practice (Core)

Intelligence and Security Law (Option)†

International Relations of the Middle East (Option)†

Internationalising Cultural Studies (Option)†

Medical Law and Ethics (Option)†

Model United Nations (Core)

Policing Crime and Deviance (Option)†

Political Parties (Option)†

Politics and Society in Contemporary China (Option)†

Researching in Social Science (Option)†

Researching Politics and International Relations (Option)†

Social Engagement (Option)†

The Vigilant State: intelligence and national security (Option)†

Thinking International Relations (Core)

Thinking Politics (Option)†

Transnational Security Studies (Core)

Understanding the City (Option)†

Understanding the European Union (Option)†

Welfare Policy and Work (Option)†

Work and Society (Option)†

Youth Justice (Option)†

Youth, Culture and Resistance (Option)†

LEVEL 3

Analysing the Policy Process (Core)

Body Politics (Option)†

Children, Families and the State (Option)†

Community and Conflict 1 (Option)†

Community and Conflict 2 (Option)†

Counselling and Guidance Skills (Option)†

Counter-Terrorism Studies (Option)†

Family Law (Option)†

Gender and Violence (Option)†

Global Civil Society (Core)

Global Governance (Core)

Harm, Agency and Regulation (Option)†

Human Rights (Social Sciences) (Option)†

Independent Study (Politics and International Relations) (Option)†

Independent Study (Social Policy and Sociology) (Option)†

International Law (Option)†

Multiculturalism and Britishness (Option)†

New Social Movements (Option)†

Parliamentary Studies (Option)†

Penology and Penal Policy (Option)†

Police Studies (Option)†

Political Transformations of Russia and China (Option)†

The Developing World (Option)†

The Politics of Energy (Option)†

The Politics of Global Health (Option)†

The Politics of Masculinity (Option)†

The Politics of Migration in the UK and Western Europe (Option)†

Understanding the Policy Process (Core)

War Crimes and Genocide (Option)†

Working With Adults (Option)†

Working With Children and Families (Option)†

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

This degree uses a variety of teaching and learning methods including lectures and seminars, group projects and workshops. In an average week students are expected to attend a lecture in each of their modules, with a follow-up seminar. Seminars are usually more informal, to enable students to discuss the topic with their tutor in a smaller group and they sometimes involve students working together in groups to prepare presentations or reports.

Assessment is by a combination of continuous assessment in the form of essays, reports, presentations and reviews, and examinations. Assessment varies from module to module depending on the subject of study.

The way students will be assessed on this course will vary for each module. It could include coursework, such as a dissertation or essay, written and practical exams, portfolio development, group work or presentations to name some examples.

Assessment Feedback

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly – usually within 15 working days after the submission date (unless stated differently above)..

Methods of Assessment

The way students are assessed on this course may vary for each module. Examples of assessment methods that are used include coursework, such as written assignments, reports or dissertations; practical exams, such as presentations, performances or observations; and written exams, such as formal examinations or in-class tests. The weighting given to each assessment method may vary across each academic year. The University of Lincoln aims to ensure that staff return in-course assessments to students promptly.

There are opportunities to supplement studies by participating in field trips to key international organisations and political institutions. In recent years, students have visited New York, Washington DC, Brussels, The Hague, Strasbourg and Geneva. Places are limited so students are encouraged to register their interest early in the academic year.

Students participating in the 2018 Washington DC and New York trip paid £1300 to cover accommodation costs and day trips whilst in New York. Transportation costs covered on the trip included flights, transfers and day trips only. Students should also expect to pay for all meals whilst on the trip plus an additional spend for activities in their spare time.

Students participating in the 2017 Ypres, Brussels and the Hague trip paid approximately £499 to cover accommodation costs and day trips whilst in Geneva. Transportation costs covered on the trip included travel by coach, transfers and day trips only. Similarly, students should expect to pay for all meal whilst on the trip plus an additional cost for activities during their spare time.

Study Abroad Initiative

Students from the School of Social and Political Sciences have the opportunity to enrol at partner institutions in the USA, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands during the third year of their undergraduate degree programme*.

The Study Abroad Initiative is available to those who have successfully completed years one and two of their degree and enables students to spend a year studying overseas during what would be their third year of study. During the year abroad students will not pay any additional tuition fees. Students will be responsible for their travel and accommodation costs in addition to their normal living costs throughout the year. Where applicable, visa costs will also need to be covered by the student. Students will then return to the University of Lincoln to complete the final year of their degree.

The initiative enables students to experience their subject from a different perspective and to explore different societies and cultures.

*Only a limited number of places are available

Student as Producer

Student as Producer is a model of teaching and learning that encourages academics and undergraduate students to collaborate on research activities. It is a programme committed to learning through doing.

The Student as Producer initiative was commended by the QAA in our 2012 review and is one of the teaching and learning features that makes the Lincoln experience unique.

Students have opportunities to undertake voluntary, competitive work placements with local councils. These offer valuable experience of a professional policy environment and provide the chance to observe how policy is set by central government and executed by local authorities, including how competing priorities can result in different decisions about where to allocate resources. Please note that students are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and general living expenses while undertaking a placement.

Placements

Some courses offer students the opportunity to undertake placements. When students are on an optional placement in the UK or overseas or studying abroad, they will be required to cover their own transport and accommodation and meals costs. Placements can range from a few weeks to a full year if students choose to undertake an optional sandwich year in industry (where available). Students are encouraged to obtain placements in industry independently. Tutors may provide support and advice to students who require it during this process.

†Please note that not all courses are available as a part-time option.

The University undergraduate tuition fee may increase year on year in line with government policy. This will enable us to continue to provide the best possible educational facilities and student experience.

Fees for enrolment on additional modules

Tuition fees for additional activity are payable by the student/sponsor and charged at the equivalent £ per credit point rate for each module. Additional activity includes:

- Enrolment on modules that are in addition to the validated programme curriculum

- Enrolment on modules that are over and above the full credit diet for the relevant academic year

- Retakes of modules as permitted by the Board of Examiners

- In exceptional circumstances, students who are required to re-take modules can do so on an 'assessment only' basis. This means that students do not attend timetabled teaching events but are required to take the assessments/examinations associated with the module(s). The 'assessment only' fee is half of the £ per credit point fee for each module.

Exceptionally, tuition fees may not be payable where a student has been granted a retake with approved extenuating circumstances.

Additional Costs

For each course students may find that there are additional costs. These may be with regard to the specific clothing, materials or equipment required, depending on their subject area. Some courses provide opportunities for students to undertake field work or field trips. Where these are compulsory, the cost for the travel, accommodation and meals may be covered by the University and so is included in the fee. Where these are optional students will normally (unless stated otherwise) be required to pay their own transportation, accommodation and meal costs.

With regards to text books, the University provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that students are required to read. However, students may prefer to purchase some of these for themselves and will therefore be responsible for this cost. Where there may be exceptions to this general rule, information will be displayed in a section titled Other Costs below.

Access to Higher Education Diploma: A minimum of 45 level 3 credits, to include 30 at merit or above.

Applicants will also be required to have at least three GCSEs at grade C or above (or the equivalent), including English.

We will also consider applicants with extensive relevant work experience.

If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk.

Unconditional Offer Scheme

The University of Lincoln Unconditional Offer Scheme has been created to identify outstanding undergraduate applicants who we think would excel at Lincoln and make a significant contribution to our academic community.

The University of Lincoln takes a holistic contextual view, looking at students in the round, including all the information supplied in their application and any additional relevant assessment required, such as a portfolio, or interview. The qualities required for success are therefore not exclusively academic, and students’ drive, ambition, creativity, and potential are important factors in those considered for the scheme.

Applicants selected for the scheme, who commit to the University of Lincoln as their first choice of university, will receive an unconditional offer. We expect students in receipt of an unconditional offer to continue to apply themselves in their studies, both at school and when they join our academic community here at Lincoln. In previous years students who were selected and joined through the Lincoln unconditional offer scheme have shown very good success rate in their studies.

This course is designed to appeal to students who are interested in the dynamics of the world in which we live and have an interest in gaining an understanding of international relationships and social policy. It is also aimed at those who would like to develop an understanding of some of the major problems that face the world and the extent to which we have the means and the will to tackle them.

The first year of the degree introduces central issues and concepts in international relations, social policy and the social sciences. Students can learn about social problems and social policies in the UK and overseas, whilst developing research and IT skills. In the second year, students may build on this foundation and choose from a range of optional modules covering subjects of special interest, such as intelligence and national security, international relations in the Middle East, war crimes, community and policy making, families and human rights. In the final year, students are expected to produce an independent study in a research area of their choice.

There are opportunities to participate in field trips to key international organisations and political institutions. In recent years, students have visited New York City, Washington DC, Brussels, The Hague, Strasbourg and Geneva. Students are responsible for any travel, accommodation or general living costs associated with optional trips. Further information relating to these costs can be found in the Features tab.

Contact Hours and Reading for a Degree

Students on this programme learn from academic staff who are often engaged in world-leading or internationally excellent research or professional practice. Contact time can be in workshops, practical sessions, seminars or lectures and may vary from module to module and from academic year to year. Tutorial sessions and project supervision can take the form of one-to-one engagement or small group sessions. Some courses offer the opportunity to take part in external visits and fieldwork.

It is still the case that students read for a degree and this means that in addition to scheduled contact hours, students are required to engage in independent study. This allows you to read around a subject and to prepare for lectures and seminars through wider reading, or to complete follow up tasks such as assignments or revision. As a general guide, the amount of independent study required by students at the University of Lincoln is that for every hour in class you are expected to spend at least two to three hours in independent study.

This module aims to enable students to both recognise and also understand the different methodologies employed in social research and to apply these to their own research project and critique of methods. Overall, the aim of this module is to set out methodological skills, and involve students in their application, and to encourage critical reflection on a variety of levels.

This module aims to introduce students to core issues of relevance to international relations study. These include global inequality, international political economy, globalization and emerging transnational civil societies. The module is intended to expose students to the breadth of issues and approaches relevant to the study of international relations and international politics more broadly.

This module aims to give students the opportunity to develop a knowledge and understanding of key social science thinkers and concepts pertinent to all of the disciplines taught within the School. Throughout, students will be encouraged to think critically about the ideas presented and to examine social problems in the light of a range of academic perspectives.

This foundation module aims to examine some key contexts and practices of social policy in the UK. It aims to provide an overview of contemporary British society and some of its pressing issues and challenges. It explores how social policy, as a broad framework of welfare, justice and rights agendas and interventions has sought to address these issues and challenges. This is set in a historical and comparative context. The module highlights the importance of understanding how social policies are framed, made and implemented and how these can be analysed within understandings of societal inequality and poverty.

This module seeks to introduce students to politics at the European level through an analysis of challenges in European politics and policy making. Beginning with the history of European integration and the first attempts to secure peace through economic interdependency, the module focuses on the development of the EU institutions and the ways in which policy-makers, bureaucrats, intellectuals and civil society actors have attempted to resolve problems of cooperation in an ever larger Union.

This module is based on the belief that comparative methodology can be a useful tool for social and political analysis. The module begins with a consideration of the development of comparative approaches, the use of a range of comparative techniques and the validity of comparison. It proceeds to an examination of some basic concepts that can help provide an understanding of the bases upon which governments are built and operate. Students then have the opportunity to apply the analytical and theoretical tools from the early parts of the module to consider a variety of features of contemporary politics and policy, particularly in the context of democratic transition in different regions of the world.

This module aims to explore the cultural, practical and theoretical developments relating to sex work, drawing upon national and international examples. Taking a comparative approach, this module seeks to understand how scholars conceptualise sex work within different competing feminist frameworks and how these ideas reflect, or are at odds with, popular public and political discourse.

This module aims to enable students to analyse the priorities and developments of welfare states over time, and through analysis of these developments, equip students with the tools to interpret key contemporary social, political and economic trends.

This module aims to introduce students to the area of foreign policy analysis. It is designed to explore competing explanations for state behaviour and the conduct of inter-state relations in the international domain. The module encourages students to consider the contested role of human agency in global affairs in contrast to disciplinary international relations’ preoccupation with structural considerations. A range of historical and contemporary case studies are used to illuminate the issues under discussion.

This module will seek to examine the key components of the US political system, and the main challenges facing democratic politics in modern America. The module aims to provide a detailed historical and theoretical appreciation of the development of US democracy. It will give students the opportunity to examine the principal institutions and actors in the US political system including the President, Congress, the Supreme Court, political parties, interest groups and the media. It will also aim to trace the impact of key ideas such as constitutionalism, federalism and exceptionalism. Finally the module will aim to examine the impact of wider societal factors on US political life, such as shifting demographics and the role of religion.

This module aims to provide an introduction to the development of key ideas, principles and institutions in political economy. Taking a broadly historical approach, the module is structured around giving students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the development of political economy both by examining the scientific contributions of, and issues addressed by its key figures, while placing such contributions in historical context. Overall the module seeks to provide students with an understanding of the key principles, ideas and controversies in the history of political economy with a view to understanding their relevance to the current era.

This module aims to examine the impact (and sometimes the lack of impact) of ideology on practice in social policy. Whilst the focus of the module is on the experience of the United Kingdom, comparison with other states will be made where appropriate.

This module aims to complement the study of topics such as human rights and police powers by providing students with the opportunity to examine a number of similar themes but from the less-explored point of view of the State and the exercise of its powers to protect itself. The module also aims to consider the law relating to the intelligence services and surveillance, and seeks to introduce students to certain International Law principles and issues and their impact in the UK. The examination of topical case studies aims to enable students to analyse and apply relevant law and constitutional principles to contemporary issues of UK security, and to develop awareness of their practical and everyday function.

This module aims to introduce students to the central issues and actors in the modern Middle East. The module will explore interconnections between domestic political issues and processes, foreign policy, regional dynamics and the international system. Throughout, the module will seek to explore how International Relations theories and analytical frameworks can help to understand and interpret the politics and international relations of the Middle East.

This module aims to introduce a range of critical approaches within media and cultural studies frameworks to examine the contemporary distribution, reception and impact of cultural forms across national boundaries. It is designed to consider how popular cultures are constructed, marketed and then consumed by their audiences. By the conclusion of the module students will have had the opportunity to gain knowledge of significant debates in the academic cultural studies as well as the critical skills necessary for them to carry out their own small-scale studies of examples.

This module is designed to firstly develop and expand on issues of negligence and personal autonomy (assault and consent) first encountered by students in tort law at level 1 and dealt with in this module in the clinical context. Building on this, the module will aim to consider the regulation of clinical practice; and the interface between the law, ethics and regulation focusing on emerging areas of difficulty. Both caselaw, statute law, regulations and current matters of media and policy controversy can be considered.

This module is designed to provide an introduction to the activities of the United Nations, as well as an understanding of the practices of international diplomacy and governance. The module will aim to use a discussion of contemporary international issues to explore some of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy. It will also seek to provide students with an introduction to issues of international organisation and international law and treaty-making. All of this is designed to assist students in preparing for their role as a 'diplomat' at a Model United Nations conference.

This module aims to examine core questions about the increasingly diverse forms of policing of crime and deviance. It considers how and why we have policed different forms of crime and deviance and why those changes have occurred and the competing character of many of the positions involved.

This module aims to address a variety of issues relating to political parties in the United Kingdom. The political science literature covers a wide variety of topics around parties. Amongst those which are examined in this module are the following; the historical development of parties; the role of parties in terms of mobilisation of support, electioneering and campaigning, recruitment of personnel; representation of the electorate and issue-based politics; and the partisan divide. These will be examined primarily within the context of a discussion of the three major parties within the British political system including their development, their ideological tenets and their contemporary positions. However, towards the end of the module these will be set against the position of other parties within the UK including the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Northern Irish parties, to which will be added a comparative perspective, drawing upon the roles and experiences of parties in Western Europe.

This module is designed to offer students the opportunity to develop an up-to-date and in-depth understanding of the social, political and economic issues facing contemporary China. Using a key text, this module starts with a broad sweep of China’s modern history, from the imperial era to the present, with the aim of providing essential context for understanding the current political and social environment. The module ends with an analysis of China’s future, challenges and prospects, in the decades to come.

Building on the level 1 module Applying Research, this module seeks to systematically scrutinise examples of research undertaken in the subject area of Social Policy/Sociology. The module has two main aims. First, to enable students to understand, in concrete terms, what constitutes research in Social Policy/Sociology and how the research process leads to the production of specific research outputs including dissertations, theses, published academic articles and research monographs. Second, the module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge base necessary for the production of research proposals and outputs.

Researching Politics and International Relations (Option)†Find out more

Researching Politics and International Relations (Option)†

Aiming to build upon the level 1 module, ‘Applying Research’, this module is designed to focus more deeply on the nature of research undertaken in the subject areas of Politics and International Relations. The main aim of the module is to give students the opportunity to develop an understanding of what constitutes research in Politics and International Relations and how the research process leads to the production of specific research outputs including dissertations, theses, published academic articles and research monographs.

This module encourages students to undertake one or more external activities relevant to their programme of study, and to engage in a critical reflection of the nature of this activity and how it relates to society as a whole and to their personal development as individuals. Relevant activities may involve significant interaction with an organisation outside the University providing an appropriate experience additional to the student’s programme of studies, such as voluntary work or mentoring within a service-providing organisation.

Please note that students will be expected to play a significant role in initiating and arranging their programme of experience and to take responsibility for the frequency and form of experience. There may be additional costs in the form of transportation and accommodation depending on where students wish to pursue experience. The experience will be required to consist of a minimum of 30 hours.

The Vigilant State: intelligence and national security (Option)†Find out more

The Vigilant State: intelligence and national security (Option)†

This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the study of intelligence. It aims to focus on the basic concepts in intelligence by seeking to establish first what is meant by intelligence, before examining the various elements of intelligence - collection, analysis, counterintelligence and associated activities such as covert political action.

This module is designed to place theory at the centre of the study of world politics. It aims to provides a critical overview of the disciplinary literature of international relations from both mainstream and critical perspectives. The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to both understand and critically employ the concepts, approaches and methods of International Relations theory, and to develop an understanding of their contested nature and the problematic character of inquiry in the discipline.

This modules seeks to examine the historical background to the various strands of political thought and ideas. In doing this, it aims to build upon some of the major ideas and concepts introduced at level one, by illustrating linkages between political theories and other aspects of politics. In particular, reference is made to key thinkers who have left their intellectual imprint on political ideas and beliefs.

This course aims to provide students with an advanced and comprehensive overview of international security in the 21st century. Specifically, it seeks to understand the issues, actors and solutions that drive security agendas in various parts of the world. Through a detailed study of key debates and key issues in the study and practice of security, the module engages with the following three questions: Security for whom and from what?; Security by whom?; Security of what and where? Emphasis will be placed on the philosophical and political connotations of certain security problems, the impact of security actors in the meaning and practice of security, and the ‘constructed’ nature of our understanding of certain contemporary security challenges.

Over half the planet’s population now lives in an urban area and urbanisation across the globe looks set to continue spreading inexorably. However, cities are contradictory sites of human development patterned by opportunity, inequality, exploitation and conflict. These traits pose challenges for the meeting of human welfare needs and for our understandings of contemporary life within cities. This module aims to enable students to analyse the emergence of cities across time and space, and through analysis of the city, enable students the opportunity to develop the tools to interpret key contemporary sociological, political and policy trends.

The module is designed to examine the ways in which the state, through its social security and labour market policies, has affected the lives of those in paid work and those outside it. A particular focus of the course is on the emerging all-party consensus on welfare policy, in which mainstream politicians agree that benefits should no longer be paid to people of working age who refuse work or training, and that governments must ensure that jobs pay more than out-of-work benefits.

This module seeks to explore the relationship between work and society, drawing on different classical and contemporary sociological theories of work. It aims to examine key areas within the sociology of work such as concepts of work, work-place inequalities, resistance and the reality and challenges of engaging in paid work in the 21st Century.

This module aims to provide students with an opportunity to explore the youth justice system in depth, including the theoretical and historical contexts of youth justice, contemporary policy and practice developments and the salience of political agendas in constructing responses to young people’s offending behaviour.

This module seeks to prompt a sociological enquiry into youth cultures, addressing issues of identity and meaning within the behaviour, consumption and lifestyles of young people. Reflecting upon contemporary narratives of youth as dangerous or out of control, the module aims to investigate the plurality of youth cultures, and the diversity of young people’s cultural practices.

Aiming to build upon Understanding the Policy Process, this module is designed to support students not only to continue to develop their knowledge of a range of perspectives on the policy process but, in addition, to use these to analyse a case study relevant to their degree programme.

This module aims to introduce students to different paradigms of the 'body' and 'embodiment'. Recent research suggests that our understandings and our relationship with our own and other ‘bodies’ has been and is continuing to undergo radical changes. This module will seek to explore these ongoing developments in Western and non-Western cultures and societies.

This module aims to examine the nature of family policy as it has developed for different family forms and for different purposes, and seeks to consider why an understanding of family policy is important in the twenty-first century. This is set in historical, ideological and comparative contexts.

This module is all about communities, in particular, communities that are poor, disadvantaged, isolated or 'socially excluded'. In recent years, interest has been re-awakened in the whole idea of community and in what sorts of policies might be most effective in helping communities and solving their problems. This module aims to look critically at all these beliefs and seeks to come to conclusions about their validity.

Community and Conflict II aims to focus on the application of theory, concepts and perspectives developed in Community and Conflict I to particular areas of public policy making including policy implementation.

This module aims to introduce students to a range of contemporary models of counselling and guidance practice. The aim is to give students the opportunity to develop skills and attitudes that can be of value in a variety of human service settings. A key feature of the module will be to allow students the opportunity to make judgements as to the appropriateness of using such techniques in different scenarios.

Throughout this module students will have the opportunity to explore how state agencies respond to real and perceived threats of extremism and terrorism. This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of the extent to which the state and the media frame extremism and terrorism.

This module aims to examine the law in England and Wales relating to the family and in particular the law on marriage, divorce, cohabiting couples, financial and property rights, and rights and duties relating to children. This module seeks to provide students with an interest in this area the opportunity to develop a detailed understanding of the practical law relating to the family and to examine ethical issues and the wider policy considerations that lie behind it.

This module explores the issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in contemporary society. GBV is understood as behaviour or attitudes underpinned by inequitable power relations that hurt, threaten or undermine people because of their gender or (perceived) sexuality.

The module starts by addressing the definitions and conceptual boundaries utilised in understanding GBV, and key theoretical perspectives on GBV, taking an in-depth look at debates in GBV scholarship, such as issues around intersectionality, patriarchy and patriarchal bargain, e.g., whether this is a useful concept and how far it can explain (global) gendered power relations. These issues will be developed through case studies of specific forms of GBV such as domestic violence and sexual coercion and rape. These case studies will explore specific forms of GBV in the context of the broader theoretical debates, as well as the current knowledge base on incidence, prevalence and responses to GBV. The module will also explore theoretical, methodological and ethical considerations when researching GBV.

This module will aim to address the historical origins of global civil society (e.g. the anti-slavery movement), together with diverse and competing contemporary meanings of global civil and ‘uncivil’ society.

This module explores the concept and practice of global governance. International Relations scholars are increasingly concerned with how international organisations work and how they might work better. Of particular interest is the governance of issues that are inherently global; that is, those that transcend national borders. Examples include health, the environment, poverty, trade, finance, security, conflict and crime.

The module begins with the historical development of international institutions and key theories of global governance. It then examines present day international organisations, in terms of their power, efficacy and impact. The final part of the module assesses whether current governance arrangements are addressing global challenges sufficiently well or whether there is potential and scope for improvement.

This module aims to investigate the variety of ways in which harmful activities are executed and regulated and seeks to evaluate the role of criminalisation within these forms of misconduct. The competing claims of ‘individual/organisational’ agency feature strongly in this module as do the variety of frameworks and the feasibility of imposing ‘realistic’ sanctions.

This module is designed to introduce students to human rights at both the conceptual and practical level. It aims to explore the theoretical arguments around the source of human rights and identifies some of the problems and possibilities which emerge from such readings.

Independent Study (Politics and International Relations) (Option)†Find out more

Independent Study (Politics and International Relations) (Option)†

Students are expected to prepare and submit an Independent Study Proposal during semester B at Intermediate Level and appropriate supervisors will be allocated at this stage. The Independent Study preparation will be focused through the Research in Social Policy and Research in Politics and International Relations modules, which aim to familiarise students with real and active models of research in relevant areas.

Independent Study (Social Policy and Sociology) (Option)†Find out more

Independent Study (Social Policy and Sociology) (Option)†

Students will be required to prepare and submit an Independent Study Proposal during semester B at Intermediate Level and appropriate supervisors will be allocated at this stage. The Independent Study preparation will be focused through the Researching in Social Science module, which aims to familiarise students with real and active models of research in relevant areas.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the dynamic, constantly evolving area of international law. Students will have the opportunity to study legal rules which operate in a much broader theatre than national law, with the aim of helping them develop a greater understanding of a changing world order. The module seeks to examine both theoretical and practical applications of International Law and aims to provide students with ample scope for research and independent study.

This module is designed to explore political challenges and debates around the presence of culturally diverse populations in the United Kingdom and aims to examine the role this presence plays in understandings of British and English identities.

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of how the UK Parliament works, in theory and in practice. It will aim to examine Parliament’s twin relationships with the Executive and with the citizen, and situate these within broader theories and debates about democratic accountability and the nature of representation.

The module also aims to bring students into closer contact with Parliament through handling Parliamentary materials and by facilitating contact with Parliamentarians through, for example an external speaker series, and when possible an optional visit to Parliament.

Please note that where opportunities arise to take part in a trip to Parliament, students are expected to cover their own transportation and meal costs.

This module aims to locate the theory, practice and history of punishment and penal policy in the context of social control in general. As well as aiming to address the philosophy of punishment, in terms of core concepts of justice, desert, deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation and reparation, it seeks to examine the way in which social control is a fundamental aspect of social relations.

This module aims to build upon the more general analysis of policing in Policing Crime and Deviance. The aim is to instil a more focused, substantial and critical understanding of the place of policing within the contemporary complex myriad of social controls, as well as the specific organisational and political challenges faced by the police in the 21st Century.

This module aims to provide an opportunity for students to sharpen their analytical skills and broaden their knowledge by exposing them to the wide-ranging debates on the problems of transition from Communism. More generally, it aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop the intellectual ability to interpret current and future developments in Russia and China.

This module takes the politics, economics and societies of the developing world as its subject matter. The module aims to explore a range of contemporary issues confronting the developing world and the module seeks to use case studies extensively throughout, in order to illuminate theory and to demonstrate the broader relevance of the issues under discussion to the study of international relations.

This module is designed to cover a variety of issues relating to the politics of energy and climate change. It seeks to provide students with a history of energy and climate change policy, an exploration of theoretical approaches and political implications, and also an opportunity to develop a comparative perspective through the examination of examples of EU and global energy and climate change policy and the way in which this is now intrinsically global.

This module aims to examine the concepts that shape debates in (and are shaped by) global health, including global health governance and global health diplomacy. It then seeks provide students with the opportunity to critically assesses programmes and strategies designed to address global health challenges such as pandemics, infectious and non-communicable diseases, reproductive health, biosecurity and inequalities of health.

This module is designed to explore the politics of masculinity in contemporary society. Overall, the module will aim to ‘make the familiar strange’ and enable students to question their own assumptions, as well as popular and common sense notions of gender.

The Politics of Migration in the UK and Western Europe (Option)†Find out more

The Politics of Migration in the UK and Western Europe (Option)†

This module explores how different Western European states have responded to the challenges of increasing immigration. It examines the causes and dynamics of migration (labour and family) and refugee migration flows to, and within, Western Europe since World War II. It compares nation-state responses with respect to entry controls and philosophies of integration, examining the influence that interest groups, supranational institutions like the EU, and party politics (including populist radical-right politics) have on these policies. It particularly examines the UK within this comparative international context, using Lincolnshire as a case study with which students can explore academic and policy debates in this field. The module focuses on building students’ analytical skills and improving their understanding of the relative benefits and drawbacks of single-case and comparative approaches in assessing migration issues

This module is designed to focus upon the processes of policy making and implementation at both practical and theoretical levels. It aims to provide students with an introduction to a variety of models of policy making and seeks to discuss the complexities of the distribution of power and decision making, primarily, but not limited to, the field of social policy.

This module is constructed as an attempt to understand the ‘anatomy’ of war crimes and genocide – their origins, ideological basis, socio-political contexts, the techniques and technologies used and relevant theoretical perspectives.

This module aims to offer students the opportunity to explore in depth the context and issues of adult health and social care and the work roles available within it.

It focuses on both national policy developments and local provision, with the emphasis on the perspectives of service users and practitioners. The module will be of particular value to students as a preparation for making career choices and to enhance their employability.

This module considers how to engage with children and families to assess and respond to needs and how to make professional judgements in decisions to safeguard and promote children’s welfare. A further key theme is working in partnership both with children and families and other agencies, considering how, in practice this can best be promoted at different levels and stages of decision-making.

Emphasis will be on current research and developments. This module will be of particular value to students as a preparation for making career choices and to enhance their employability.

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

LEVEL 1

Applying Research (Social Sciences) (Core)

Global Conflicts and Contexts (Core)

Key Social Science Concepts (Core)

Social Issues and Social Justice (Core)

LEVEL 2

Challenges of European Politics (Option)†

Comparative Politics and Policy (Core)

Conceptualising Sex Work (Option)†

Debating Welfare States (Option)†

Foreign Policy Analysis (Option)†

Governing America (Option)†

Ideas and Issues in Political Economy (Option)†

Ideology into Practice (Core)

Intelligence and Security Law (Option)†

International Relations of the Middle East (Option)†

Internationalising Cultural Studies (Option)†

Medical Law and Ethics (Option)†

Model United Nations (Core)

Policing Crime and Deviance (Option)†

Political Parties (Option)†

Politics and Society in Contemporary China (Option)†

Researching in Social Science (Option)†

Researching Politics and International Relations (Option)†

Social Engagement (Option)†

The Vigilant State: intelligence and national security (Option)†

Thinking International Relations (Core)

Thinking Politics (Option)†

Transnational Security Studies (Option)†

Understanding the City (Option)†

Understanding the European Union (Option)†

Welfare Policy and Work (Option)†

Work and Society (Option)†

Youth Justice (Option)†

Youth, Culture and Resistance (Option)†

LEVEL 3

Analysing the Policy Process (Core)

Body Politics (Option)†

Children, Families and the State (Option)†

Community and Conflict 1 (Option)†

Community and Conflict 2 (Option)†

Counselling and Guidance Skills (Option)†

Counter-Terrorism Studies (Option)†

Family Law (Option)†

Gender and Violence (Option)†

Global Civil Society (Core)

Global Governance (Core)

Harm, Agency and Regulation (Option)†

Human Rights (Social Sciences) (Option)†

Independent Study (Politics and International Relations) (Option)†

Independent Study (Social Policy and Sociology) (Option)†

International Law (Option)†

Multiculturalism and Britishness (Option)†

New Social Movements (Option)†

Parliamentary Studies (Option)†

Penology and Penal Policy (Option)†

Police Studies (Option)†

Political Transformations of Russia and China (Option)†

The Developing World (Option)†

The Politics of Energy (Option)†

The Politics of Global Health (Option)†

The Politics of Masculinity (Option)†

The Politics of Migration in the UK and Western Europe (Option)†

Understanding the Policy Process (Core)

War Crimes and Genocide (Option)†

Working With Adults (Option)†

Working With Children and Families (Option)†

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

This degree uses a variety of teaching and learning methods including lectures and seminars, group projects and workshops. In an average week students are expected to attend a lecture in each of their modules, with a follow-up seminar. Seminars are usually more informal, to enable students to discuss the topic with their tutor in a smaller group and they sometimes involve students working together in groups to prepare presentations or reports.

Assessment is by a combination of continuous assessment in the form of essays, reports, presentations and reviews, and examinations. Assessment varies from module to module depending on the subject of study.

The way students will be assessed on this course will vary for each module. It could include coursework, such as a dissertation or essay, written and practical exams, portfolio development, group work or presentations to name some examples.

Assessment Feedback

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly – usually within 15 working days after the submission date (unless stated differently above)..

Methods of Assessment

The way students are assessed on this course may vary for each module. Examples of assessment methods that are used include coursework, such as written assignments, reports or dissertations; practical exams, such as presentations, performances or observations; and written exams, such as formal examinations or in-class tests. The weighting given to each assessment method may vary across each academic year. The University of Lincoln aims to ensure that staff return in-course assessments to students promptly.

There are opportunities to supplement studies by participating in field trips to key international organisations and political institutions. In recent years, students have visited New York, Washington DC, Brussels, The Hague, Strasbourg and Geneva. Places are limited so students are encouraged to register their interest early in the academic year.

Students participating in the 2018 Washington DC and New York trip paid £1300 to cover accommodation costs and day trips whilst in New York. Transportation costs covered on the trip included flights, transfers and day trips only. Students should also expect to pay for all meals whilst on the trip plus an additional spend for activities in their spare time.

Students participating in the 2017 Ypres, Brussels and the Hague trip paid approximately £499 to cover accommodation costs and day trips whilst in Geneva. Transportation costs covered on the trip included travel by coach, transfers and day trips only. Similarly, students should expect to pay for all meals whilst on the trip plus an additional cost for activities during their spare time.

Study Abroad Initiative

Students from the School of Social and Political Sciences have the opportunity to enrol at partner institutions in the USA, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands during the third year of their undergraduate degree programme*.

The Study Abroad Initiative is available to those who have successfully completed years one and two of their degree and enables students to spend a year studying overseas during what would be their third year of study. During the year abroad students will not pay any additional tuition fees. Students will be responsible for their travel and accommodation costs in addition to their normal living costs throughout the year. Where applicable, visa costs will also need to be covered by the student. Students will then return to the University of Lincoln to complete the final year of their degree.

The initiative enables students to experience their subject from a different perspective and to explore different societies and cultures.

*Only a limited number of places are available. These places are allocated competitively, subject to academic criteria.

Student as Producer

Student as Producer is a model of teaching and learning that encourages academics and undergraduate students to collaborate on research activities. It is a programme committed to learning through doing.

The Student as Producer initiative was commended by the QAA in our 2012 review and is one of the teaching and learning features that makes the Lincoln experience unique.

Students have opportunities to undertake voluntary, competitive work placements with local councils. These offer valuable experience of a professional policy environment and provide the chance to observe how policy is set by central government and executed by local authorities, including how competing priorities can result in different decisions about where to allocate resources. Please note that students are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and general living expenses while undertaking a placement.

The Work Opportunities Hub is available to support all students within the College of Social Science who are seeking to enhance their studies by engaging with a variety of work settings. This may be as part of their programme or as an activity during term time or holidays.

Placements

Some courses offer students the opportunity to undertake placements. When students are on an optional placement in the UK or overseas or studying abroad, they will be required to cover their own transport and accommodation and meals costs. Placements can range from a few weeks to a full year if students choose to undertake an optional sandwich year in industry (where available). Students are encouraged to obtain placements in industry independently. Tutors may provide support and advice to students who require it during this process.

†Please note that not all courses are available as a part-time option.

The University undergraduate tuition fee may increase year on year in line with government policy. This will enable us to continue to provide the best possible educational facilities and student experience.

Fees for enrolment on additional modules

Tuition fees for additional activity are payable by the student/sponsor and charged at the equivalent £ per credit point rate for each module. Additional activity includes:

- Enrolment on modules that are in addition to the validated programme curriculum

- Enrolment on modules that are over and above the full credit diet for the relevant academic year

- Retakes of modules as permitted by the Board of Examiners

- In exceptional circumstances, students who are required to re-take modules can do so on an 'assessment only' basis. This means that students do not attend timetabled teaching events but are required to take the assessments/examinations associated with the module(s). The 'assessment only' fee is half of the £ per credit point fee for each module.

Exceptionally, tuition fees may not be payable where a student has been granted a retake with approved extenuating circumstances.

Additional Costs

For each course students may find that there are additional costs. These may be with regard to the specific clothing, materials or equipment required, depending on their subject area. Some courses provide opportunities for students to undertake field work or field trips. Where these are compulsory, the cost for the travel, accommodation and meals may be covered by the University and so is included in the fee. Where these are optional students will normally (unless stated otherwise) be required to pay their own transportation, accommodation and meal costs.

With regards to text books, the University provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that students are required to read. However, students may prefer to purchase some of these for themselves and will therefore be responsible for this cost. Where there may be exceptions to this general rule, information will be displayed in a section titled Other Costs below.

The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry and will consider applicants who have a mix of qualifications.

We also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.

If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk

Unconditional Offer Scheme

The University of Lincoln Unconditional Offer Scheme has been created to identify outstanding undergraduate applicants who we think would excel at Lincoln and make a significant contribution to our academic community.

The University of Lincoln takes a holistic contextual view, looking at students in the round, including all the information supplied in their application and any additional relevant assessment required, such as a portfolio, or interview. The qualities required for success are therefore not exclusively academic, and students’ drive, ambition, creativity, and potential are important factors in those considered for the scheme.

Applicants selected for the scheme, who commit to the University of Lincoln as their first choice of university, will receive an unconditional offer. We expect students in receipt of an unconditional offer to continue to apply themselves in their studies, both at school and when they join our academic community here at Lincoln. In previous years students who were selected and joined through the Lincoln unconditional offer scheme have shown very good success rate in their studies.

Throughout this degree, students may receive tuition from professors, senior lecturers, lecturers, researchers, practitioners, visiting experts or technicians, and they may be supported in their learning by other students.

Dr Obendorf is Programme Leader for the International Relations and Social Policy undergraduate degree. Dr Obendorf teaches modules including Internationalising Cultural Studies, The Colonial Present, Body Politics and The Developing World.

Your Future Career

Graduates have secured roles in international institutions, local government, the civil service, in policy development, within Parliament, national and international NGOs, the police and the armed forces, while others have pursued careers in media, journalism, education and academia. Many choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level.

Careers Service

The University Careers and Employability Team offer qualified advisors who can work with students to provide tailored, individual support and careers advice during their time at the University. As a member of our alumni we also offer one-to-one support in the first year after completing a course, including access to events, vacancy information and website resources; with access to online vacancies and virtual resources for the following two years.

This service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice and interview preparation to help you maximise our graduates future opportunities.

The service works closely with local, national and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.

Graduates have secured roles in international institutions, local government, the civil service, in policy development, within Parliament, national and international NGOs, the police and the armed forces, while others have pursued careers in media, journalism, education and academia. Many choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level.

Careers Service

The University Careers and Employability Team offer qualified advisors who can work with students to provide tailored, individual support and careers advice during their time at the University. As a member of our alumni we also offer one-to-one support in the first year after completing a course, including access to events, vacancy information and website resources; with access to online vacancies and virtual resources for the following two years.

This service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice and interview preparation to help you maximise our graduates future opportunities.

The service works closely with local, national and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.

At Lincoln, we constantly invest in our campus as we aim to provide the best learning environment for our undergraduates. Whatever the area of study, the University strives to ensure students have access to specialist equipment and resources, to develop the skills, which they may need in their future career.

Students also make the most of the University's Great Central Warehouse Library, which is home to more than 250,000 printed books and approximately 400,000 electronic books and journals, alongside databases and specialist collections. The Library has a range of different spaces for shared and individual learning.